our 3 best d-men were, EASILY, karlsson methot and weircioch, and it wasn't even close.

ceci played incredibly sheltered minutes, and was average at best. i think he's going to be an excellent hockey player, but i don't think he's ready to play top 4 NHL minutes yet. better to have him getting the ice time in the AHL imo.
- sensarmy_11

I wouldn't be surprised if Ceci came out even better next year, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he struggled. It's just that point in his career. Some guys need to take a step back before they take two forward. Some guys follow a linear development curve. We;ll find out soon enough with Ceci and Zibanejad. In fact, I would say our season hinges most on the development of Zib, Ceci, Cowen, and Lehner next season. If they all play well, we make the playoffs. If they play poorly, lottery team.

How's the hurricane up your way, Army? It's just about done here in NB, not too much damage.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ceci came out even better next year, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he struggled. It's just that point in his career. Some guys need to take a step back before they take two forward. Some guys follow a linear development curve. We;ll find out soon enough with Ceci and Zibanejad. In fact, I would say our season hinges most on the development of Zib, Ceci, Cowen, and Lehner next season. If they all play well, we make the playoffs. If they play poorly, lottery team.

How's the hurricane up your way, Army? It's just about done here in NB, not too much damage.
- TommyDeVito

didn't rain as much as i thought it would, but the wind was (frank)ing crazy. pretty much over now.

lots of power outages, trees uprooted, car accidents, roof shingles ripped off, etc.

no injuries (other than minor ones in the car accidents)

- Gord_Wilson_2.0

this was my favorite post on this site (atleast top 3)

oh and tommy hit the nail on the head (I mentioned this yday)

This team is going to be tall, fast, and should be two-way hockey players. I can see them struggling to score goals if anything. Right now they need defensive structure so their young guys can make a good transition... here comes the youth:

Forward: Zibanejad, Stone, Lazar, Hoffman, Chiasson
D-men: Cowen, Weircioch, Ceci, Boroweici, Cleasson

Disagree with that completely. Once he has had a taste of NHL if you move him back down he will be downgraded. IMO he was the 3rd best defenseman on our team last year. Granted that isn't really good, but for his age and experience it is very respectable. His future ranges from top-2 (high expectation) to top-4 (low expectation).
- TheCalSen

I get panicky whenever I say this stuff because CONTEXT ... but Cody Ceci wasn't great last year. Pretty average. Which you are saying, other than the whole 'third best defenseman' part.

(Which is really, really great for a person his age.)

But he wasn't better than Karlsson or Methot or Wiercioch. I don't see any argument for it. He was more Gryba territory -- which isn't a bad thing, again. Gryba had a decent season. Ceci maybe a touch better.

Obviously like three trillion miles ahead of Cowen/Phillips/Borowiecki in his call-up.

I'm really excited about him next few years, of course.

didn't rain as much as i thought it would, but the wind was (frank)ing crazy. pretty much over now.

lots of power outages, trees uprooted, car accidents, roof shingles ripped off, etc.

no injuries (other than minor ones in the car accidents)
- sensarmy_11

yeah, about the same here. Trees pulled out was the only real damage. We cancelled a trip up to windsor for mud hero due to it.

figured a tent wouldn't last the day unattended.

I get panicky whenever I say this stuff because CONTEXT ... but Cody Ceci wasn't great last year. Pretty average. Which you are saying, other than the whole 'third best defenseman' part.

(Which is really, really great for a person his age.)

But he wasn't better than Karlsson or Methot or Wiercioch. I don't see any argument for it. He was more Gryba territory -- which isn't a bad thing, again. Gryba had a decent season. Ceci maybe a touch better.

Obviously like three trillion miles ahead of Cowen/Phillips/Borowiecki in his call-up.

I'm really excited about him next few years, of course.
- Travis Yost

Anytime you don't have to constantly worry about a 19 YO offensive D rookie every time he steps on the ice is a great sign.

because of how limited his brain farts were, I figure his learning curve is going to turn out steeper than most.

If Cowen can rebound and continue to develop the way we hope, I could see us ending up with a situation similar to Chicago's defense. Two great top pair guys and another guy who is good enough but is just caught up in a numbers game.

I know those are pretty high expectations but there's nothing wrong with being positive.

The Ottawa forwards in the 1-0 season opener in Buffalo (October 2013) are listed below in the exact order they are presented in the NHL.com game summary. Some of us thought this team would push Boston for the Division lead. I have placed besides some players names my best guess who might replace that player if the new season started tonight. Drives me crazy that people actually think Brian Murray has weakened this team. He has done a great job.

Ryan
Turris
Michalek
Greening
Smith
MacArthur
Spezza............Zibanejad
Condra............Hoffman
DaCosta..........Legwand
Neil................Chiasson
Pageau...........Lazar
Conacher........Stone

Does anybody believe that last year's lineup looks better than next year? And, we await one more top six "hard" forward that would likely go in as a replacement for Greening.

The Ottawa forwards in the 1-0 season opener in Buffalo (October 2013) are listed below in the exact order they are presented in the NHL.com game summary. Some of us thought this team would push Boston for the Division lead. I have placed besides some players names my best guess who might replace that player if the new season started tonight. Drives me crazy that people actually think Brian Murray has weakened this team. He has done a great job.

Ryan
Turris
Michalek
Greening
Smith
MacArthur
Spezza............Zibanejad
Condra............Hoffman
DaCosta..........Legwand
Neil................Chiasson
Pageau...........Lazar
Conacher........Stone

Does anybody believe that last year's lineup looks better than next year? And, we await one more top six "hard" forward that would likely go in as a replacement for Greening.
- spatso

Umm, I think they are about even.. I know you probably think Zibanejad is as good as Spezza, but he is not.

Also, Neil and Condra will be in our starting lineup.

In any event, even if our forward lineup is marginally better, I expect the defence will be just about as big a gongshow... It may well all hinge on how well the goalies play.

Umm, I think they are about even.. I know you probably think Zibanejad is as good as Spezza, but he is not.

Also, Neil and Condra will be in our starting lineup.

In any event, even if our forward lineup is marginally better, I expect the defence will be just about as big a gongshow... It may well all hinge on how well the goalies play.
- Mr_Clean

Exactly. I have no issue with what Murray did with our forwards, I actually think he has remolded the group into a big, tough, two-way squad with a few dashes of skill and speed that lack the size. More of an LA or Boston mold.

The lack of any movement on defense is what will kill us, you simply can't expect that much growth out of these young guys that fast. we'll be lucky if one of Weir, Ceci, or Cowen show capable of top 4 duties at this point in their careers, and we're counting on two of them to pull it off.

I can only imagine how good we could be if we had let phillips and Gryba walk, and signed Dan Boyle and Anton Stralman.

We probably would have made a huge jump up the east standings if we had done that, and been able to show the young guys how to win. Instead, another division rival in Tampa has shored up their back end while we sat idle.

Don't we still have an extra two/three skaters in our lineup?

I hope the moves are Boro and Greening somehow traded for picks or put on waivers or something and that the rest of the group is largely untouched. I am worried that the sacrificial lamb will be Weircioch and Pageau. They should both be up in my opinion.

Don't we still have an extra two/three skaters in our lineup?

I hope the moves are Boro and Greening somehow traded for picks or put on waivers or something and that the rest of the group is largely untouched. I am worried that the sacrificial lamb will be Weircioch and Pageau. They should both be up in my opinion.
- riceroni

Ryan Turris Mac
Stone Leg Chiasson
Michalek Zib Hoffman/Condra
Neil Smith Greening

Pageau/Lazar?

Unless we see a trade come, this reduces the likelihood of seeing Lazar this season?

I also think Peumpel will get a good shot at camp.

Ryan Turris Mac
Stone Leg Chiasson
Michalek Zib Hoffman/Condra
Neil Smith Greening

Pageau/Lazar?

Unless we see a trade come, this reduces the likelihood of seeing Lazar this season?

I also think Peumpel will get a good shot at camp.
- david22

You forgot condra, too.

Don't we still have an extra two/three skaters in our lineup?

I hope the moves are Boro and Greening somehow traded for picks or put on waivers or something and that the rest of the group is largely untouched. I am worried that the sacrificial lamb will be Weircioch and Pageau. They should both be up in my opinion.
- riceroni

Getting rid of Greening would be THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST

Ryan Turris Mac
Stone Leg Chiasson
Michalek Zib Hoffman/Condra
Neil Smith Greening

Pageau/Lazar?

Unless we see a trade come, this reduces the likelihood of seeing Lazar this season?

I also think Peumpel will get a good shot at camp.
- david22

Mobility Back-End

I defeinitly agree with the posts above talking about more puck movement and skating mobility from our 6 Dmen. Obviously Karlsson is a complete exception to this group but when looking at the other 5 Dmen in the line up, they have to be careful with who they put in.

Cowen - Karlsson
Methot - Ceci
Phillips - Boroweici / Gryba

Weircioch has excellent passing and shot but needs to work on his foot speed and mobility playing defense

I agree with moving greening out. He's almost as much cap hit as MacArthur

Greening, Prince, pick/prospect for stewart

You forgot condra, too.
- TommyDeVito

Nope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=husA6j4bajQ

After everything he went through he needs to get signed and the Sens need to show him that they want him here

He said that a few years ago about Anaheim and we need to keep him here. I'd give him 8 years @6.75

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=725427

I got to say, Ottawa isn't bad down the middle. Kyle Turris should only be better than his play last year (26G +22). David Legwand is a good 2nd line center with tons of experience; Mika Zibanejad is the perfect 2nd/3rd line center. I'm not sure about him being a #1 center; unless management sees something right now

Umm, I think they are about even.. I know you probably think Zibanejad is as good as Spezza, but he is not.

Also, Neil and Condra will be in our starting lineup.

In any event, even if our forward lineup is marginally better, I expect the defence will be just about as big a gongshow... It may well all hinge on how well the goalies play.
- Mr_Clean

In regard to Condra not in that opening night line up, I took half of story that both Condra and Greening would be available and I moved the easier of the two to move (Condra). I just treated Neil as the 13th forward.

Having some difficulty with people's concerns about Ottawa having an immobile defense. Any team that plays Karlsson 26+ minutes a night obviously can move the puck.

Don't know if the data can demonstrate this point but, it seemed to me, Ottawa's D was much stronger in their on end whenever Turris was on the ice. Ottawa struggled in their own end when Spezza was on the ice.

When a coach plays a possession game and your supposedly top center does not play a 200' game, all of your D will struggle in their own end, including Karlsson.

In regard to Condra not in that opening night line up, I took half of story that both Condra and Greening would be available and I moved the easier of the two to move (Condra). I just treated Neil as the 13th forward.

Having some difficulty with people's concerns about Ottawa having an immobile defense. Any team that plays Karlsson 26+ minutes a night obviously can move the puck.

Don't know if the data can demonstrate this point but, it seemed to me, Ottawa's D was much stronger in their on end whenever Turris was on the ice. Ottawa struggled in their own end when Spezza was on the ice.

When a coach plays a possession game and your supposedly top center does not play a 200' game, all of your D will struggle in their own end, including Karlsson.
- spatso

Spezza had linemates, though, one of whom ( michalek) is still likely to be playing on Zibanejad's wing. I think saying that Ottawa's defence struggled because spezza was on the ice is a massive exaggeration of how bad spez was on defence.

I'd like to think the team could just give up 20 fewer goals while scoring just as many, but I don't see simply getting rid of Spezza would accomplish that. I think we will score and give up somewhat fewer goals, but we still have one of the worst d-corps in the league.

I really don't think relying on Karlsson to play 26mins+ is a wise idea either.

Spezza had linemates, though, one of whom ( michalek) is still likely to be playing on Zibanejad's wing. I think saying that Ottawa's defence struggled because spezza was on the ice is a massive exaggeration of how bad spez was on defence.

I'd like to think the team could just give up 20 fewer goals while scoring just as many, but I don't see simply getting rid of Spezza would accomplish that. I think we will score and give up somewhat fewer goals, but we still have one of the worst d-corps in the league.

I really don't think relying on Karlsson to play 26mins+ is a wise idea either.
- Mr_Clean

Getting rid of Spezza will lose us 20-30 goals, but it will cut at least that against.

Spezza had a brutal year last year in his own end, way too many odd man rushes and open guys in the high slot leading to GA. I think it absolutely will even out. At worst.

Spezza had linemates, though, one of whom ( michalek) is still likely to be playing on Zibanejad's wing. I think saying that Ottawa's defence struggled because spezza was on the ice is a massive exaggeration of how bad spez was on defence.

I'd like to think the team could just give up 20 fewer goals while scoring just as many, but I don't see simply getting rid of Spezza would accomplish that. I think we will score and give up somewhat fewer goals, but we still have one of the worst d-corps in the league.

I really don't think relying on Karlsson to play 26mins+ is a wise idea either.
- Mr_Clean

Only three teams in the East scored more than Ottawa last year. They had 236 goals, the same as the Flyers and more than 4 other teams that made the playoffs.

Problem is they gave up 265 goals. MacLean and Murray believe they can cut the GA for the year by 50 with the existing D corps. Nobody believes that plus/minus means too much as it is subject to so many variables. But it has to mean something at a global level when Turris is at +22 and MacArthur is at +12. Jason Spezza is -26 and Milan Michalek is -25.

Given the infamous reputation of plus/minus nobody wants to make specific conclusions. But, I think you can generally say, that when Ottawa was playing even strength

-and, when Turris was on the ice it was more likely that Ottawa would score rather than be scored upon,

-and, when Spezza was on the ice it was more likely that Ottawa would be scored upon rather than score.

Getting rid of Spezza will lose us 20-30 goals, but it will cut at least that against.

Spezza had a brutal year last year in his own end, way too many odd man rushes and open guys in the high slot leading to GA. I think it absolutely will even out. At worst.
- TommyDeVito

Lose 20-30 goals? Are you nuts, when was the last season spezza had between 20-30 points?